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Several dogs in pursuit of bear were “thrown to wolves” over the weekend in Wisconsin’s north woods

Decades-old conflict between bear hunters and wolves continues with more hunting dogs killed. Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves depredated the following hunting dogs over the weekend. A Walker Hound on 8/12/17 in the Town of Blaine, Burnett County. Then again on the very next day; Two Walker Hounds in the same incident on 8/13/17 in the Town of Blaine, Burnett County. DNR Wolf Caution Areas

In a response to a Criminal Complaint filed by PEER the president of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association to a Star Tribune article; said, “As I stated before, with freedom you also have the freedom to make bad choices. And to hunt in the exact same place that your hunting dogs got killed and eaten is your choice. But I know the vast majority of hunters do not.” Carl Schoettel, president of Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association (WBHA).

“Disposable dogs”

And to hunt in the exact same place that your hunting dogs got killed and eaten is your choice. ~Carl Schoettel, WBHA

Hunters using dogs in pursuit of bear in the norths woods of Wisconsin run their hounds right through wolf rendezvous sites (where wolf pups are kept). Wolf pups are only about three months old when hunters begin running their dogs on bear. They run hounds through known wolf caution areas; even though WDNR sends out alerts to avoid those areas. In 1982 Wisconsin started a wolf depredation program. Wolf depredation program pays $2,500.00 per hunting dog. In 2016 thirty-seven bear hunting dogs were killed in the pursuit of bear. Several bear hunters received multiple wolf depredation program payments, and even ones with criminal charges; such as poaching a black bear.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) filed A criminal complaint cites; State Payments for Hunting Dogs Killed in Wolf Clashes, on August 2, 2017 filed complaint on behalf of an anonymous confidential public employee.

About PEER (protecting employees who protect our environment) As a service organization assisting federal, state & local public employees, PEER allows public servants to work as “anonymous activists” so that agencies must confront the message, rather than the messenger.

Wisconsin Hounders Illegally Harass Wolves Criminal Complaint, Press Release:,“Washington, DC — Hunters unleashing packs of dogs to tree bears in Wisconsin woods are criminally harassing gray wolves in violation of the Endangered Species Act, according to a complaint filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The complaint cites state payments to hunters to compensate for hunting dogs killed or injured in clashes with wolves as evidence of violations.”

In a conversation with USFWS Great Lakes Region office over a month or so ago, I asked them if they would investigate bear hunters using dogs in pursuit of bear, because this activity or sport was getting out of hand; not only were a record number of hunting dogs being lost, but I began to think wolves were being harassed by this activity. Hunters were repeatedly going into Wisconsin DNR Wolf caution areas. “Wolf caution areas are created to warn hunters that a specific pack has attacked a dog or group of dogs. Bear hunters are urged to exercise greater caution if they plan to train hounds or hunt bear with hounds near any caution area, especially if near an actual kill site.” From the WDNR wolf caution website

USFWS never got back to me, and my next step was to call PEER, because I had heard good things about their work. In the end, PEER took my concerns seriously, the result is a criminal complaint letter requesting USFWS law enforcement to investigate. There is hope and it’s a legal one. We are now awaiting a response from USFWS. Read full editorial here

Published by Rachel Tilseth

Rachel holds a Batchelor of Science Degree in Art Education and is a retired art teacher. Tilseth is a freelance writer and journalist. Tilseth’s interests in nature, specifically wolves, led her to advocate for wolves and wildlife. In the year 2000 she became involved in WI DNR Wolf Recovery Program working as a volunteer winter wolf tracker to present. She founded the blog and social media network Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin to bring education and awareness to Wisconsin’s wild wolf. Tilseth has spent several years speaking out against wolf trophy hunts. Tilseth is active in working to ban Wolf Hounding in Wisconsin. She has a strong background in the visual arts. She’s a sculptor and oil painter. Tilseth has expanded her interest into filmmaking. She’s currently in the process of creating a documentary film about the heart of wolf advocacy.
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